Lord of the Flies Lord of the Flies

William GoldingWilliam Golding

1911- 19931911- 1993

About William GoldingAbout William Golding

British novelistBritish novelist Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in Winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in

literatureliterature Fought in Royal Navy during WWIIFought in Royal Navy during WWII Participated in invasion of Normandy on Participated in invasion of Normandy on

D-DayD-Day At war’s end, returned to teaching and At war’s end, returned to teaching and

writingwriting

Lord of the Flies Lord of the Flies

““It was simply what seemed It was simply what seemed sensible for me to write after the sensible for me to write after the war when everyone was thanking war when everyone was thanking God they weren’t Nazi’s. I’d seen God they weren’t Nazi’s. I’d seen enough to realize that every single enough to realize that every single one of us could be Nazi’s.” one of us could be Nazi’s.”

Lord of the Flies was “an attempt Lord of the Flies was “an attempt to trace the defects of society to trace the defects of society back to the defects of human back to the defects of human nature.” (Evil as a force within nature.” (Evil as a force within each of us.)each of us.)

William Golding on his novel, William Golding on his novel,

Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies

About the NovelAbout the Novel

Set in mid 1940’s during WWII.Set in mid 1940’s during WWII. A plane carrying British school boys is mistaken for a military A plane carrying British school boys is mistaken for a military

craft and shot down.craft and shot down. Only the boys survive the crash, and try to form a society Only the boys survive the crash, and try to form a society

and govern themselves.and govern themselves. Free from the rules and structures of civilization and society, Free from the rules and structures of civilization and society,

the boys descend into savagery. the boys descend into savagery. Paints a broader portrait of the struggle between the Paints a broader portrait of the struggle between the

civilizing instinct—the impulse to obey rules, behave morally, civilizing instinct—the impulse to obey rules, behave morally, and act lawfully—and the savage instinct—the impulse to and act lawfully—and the savage instinct—the impulse to seek brute power over others, act selfishly, scorn moral seek brute power over others, act selfishly, scorn moral rules, and indulge in violence. rules, and indulge in violence.

Island is a microcosm of society, politics, and human Island is a microcosm of society, politics, and human psychologypsychology

The “Scar”The “Scar”

RalphRalph JackJack

Ralph is the most charismatic of Ralph is the most charismatic of the group. He is initially chosen the group. He is initially chosen as leader due to his many as leader due to his many positive qualities. He maintains a positive qualities. He maintains a conflict with Jack throughout the conflict with Jack throughout the entire novel, attempting to keep entire novel, attempting to keep order whereas Jack isn't order whereas Jack isn't concerned with it. Ralph and concerned with it. Ralph and Piggy together represent the Piggy together represent the struggle for order and struggle for order and democracy. democracy.

Jack is about Ralph's age, with Jack is about Ralph's age, with a skinnier build and red hair. a skinnier build and red hair. From the very beginning, he From the very beginning, he seems to harbor emotions of seems to harbor emotions of anger and savagery. At first, anger and savagery. At first, he is the leader of his choir he is the leader of his choir group, who become hunters as group, who become hunters as the book progresses. He the book progresses. He eventually overtakes Ralph as eventually overtakes Ralph as chief/leader.chief/leader.

PiggyPiggy SimonSimon

Piggy is a short and Piggy is a short and overweight boy who wears overweight boy who wears glasses and represents order glasses and represents order and democracy. He tries to cling and democracy. He tries to cling to civilization, and tries his best to civilization, and tries his best to keep peace. While probably to keep peace. While probably the smartest boy on the island, the smartest boy on the island, he lacks any social skills he lacks any social skills whatsoever, and has trouble whatsoever, and has trouble communicating or fitting in with communicating or fitting in with the others. His glasses are a the others. His glasses are a very important part of the book, very important part of the book, as they are used over and over as they are used over and over to start fires.to start fires.

Simon is younger than the Simon is younger than the three previous boys, but older three previous boys, but older than other littluns. He is very than other littluns. He is very good and pure, and has the good and pure, and has the most positive outlook. Simon most positive outlook. Simon often travels into his tranquil often travels into his tranquil spot in the jungle, but also tries spot in the jungle, but also tries to help out when it is needed. to help out when it is needed. He meets up with a pig's head He meets up with a pig's head skewered on a stick which skewered on a stick which leads him to an epileptic leads him to an epileptic episode. episode.

ThemesThemes in the Novel in the Novel

Civilization vs. SavageryCivilization vs. Savagery Loss of InnocenceLoss of Innocence Original SinOriginal Sin Fear that separates one from GodFear that separates one from God Nature of Good and Evil Nature of Good and Evil Goodness is rare and fleetingGoodness is rare and fleeting

SymbolsSymbols in the Novel in the Novel

The Beast- The Beast- The fear that separates man The fear that separates man from Godfrom God

Piggy’s Glasses- Piggy’s Glasses- Reason, science and Reason, science and insightinsight

Lord of the Flies- Lord of the Flies- Evil Evil Fire Signal- Fire Signal- Hope, salvationHope, salvation

The ConchThe Conch

Symbolizes power Symbolizes power and orderand order

Boy with the conch Boy with the conch has the right to speak has the right to speak at meetingsat meetings

What if something What if something were to happen to the were to happen to the shell? Significance?shell? Significance?

Modern Day Modern Day AllusionsAllusions

Allusion- (n.) an indirect reference to Allusion- (n.) an indirect reference to somethingsomething

There are many, many modern day allusions There are many, many modern day allusions to to Lord of the FliesLord of the Flies in popular culture. in popular culture.

For example….For example….

The Simpson’s The Simpson’s episode titled episode titled Das Bus Das Bus is a is a parody of parody of Lord of Lord of the Fliesthe Flies..

Mark Burnett’s CBS island show is said to have been inspired by LOTF.

The episode The episode Club Club SpongebobSpongebob is a is a spoof of LOTF.spoof of LOTF.

Bands such as Taking Back Sunday, Nine Inch Nails, AFI, Iron Maiden, and Pink Floyd have written songs about or have alluded to LOTF in their music

Popular MusicPopular Music

Bands such as Taking Bands such as Taking Back Sunday, Nine Back Sunday, Nine Inch Nails, AFI, Iron Inch Nails, AFI, Iron Maiden, and Pink Maiden, and Pink Floyd have written Floyd have written songs about or have songs about or have alluded to LOTF in alluded to LOTF in their music.their music.

AllegoryAllegory

Any type of fiction that has multiple levels of Any type of fiction that has multiple levels of meaning in this way is called an meaning in this way is called an allegoryallegory. .